He was born from humble stock but rose to be a brilliant student. A socialite marriage thrust him into the dizzy heights of Rwandan society. Yet the rapid ascension of his early years came to an abrupt end in 1984 after his banishment from Kigali. Alfred Musema was appointed director of the Gisovu tea factory, an isolated post he had no choice but to grudgingly endure.

The initial appearance of three accused before the Court was scheduled for September 3, 1997. Pauline Nyiramasuhuko, former minister of the interim government, pleaded not guilty to the five charges against her. The appearances of Alfred Musema and Arsene Shalom Ntahobali were postponed because of the absence of their counsel and because of bickering between the prosecution and the defense. Bis repetita.

On 1st May 1998, the former Rwandan prime minister Jean Kambanda, made his initial appearance before the First Trial Chamber. For the first time in the history of the ICTR, the accused pleaded guilty to six charges made against him. After being satisfied that the plea was genuine and unequivocal, the Tribunal found the accused guilty. The « big day » atmosphere had nothing to do with preparations for the Mayday celebrations. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda was assembled for a different kind of ceremony.

In an annexe to the Belgian request for amicus curiae, the Crown Prosecutor for the Brussels Appeals Court specifies the charges made against Bernard Ntuyahaga. These include the murder of the former Prime Minister, Agathe Uwilingiyimana, the assasination of ten blue helmet soldiers and several Rwandan citizens and the participation in the massacres carried out in Kiyovu (Kigali) in April 1994. « The acts with which Major Bernard Ntuyahaga is charged constitute crimes which, under Belgian law, fall under the jurisdiction of the (cour d'assises) Assize Court.